Jakarta. The Indonesian Embassy in Singapore, in collaboration with Digital Fashion Week, Singapore's Textile and Fashion Federation and Galeries Lafayette Jakarta, have unveiled the "RISING FASHION" project to promote designers from both countries.

The project, which coincides with the 50th year of formal diplomatic relations between the two states, was officially opened at the Galeries Lafayette Jakarta on Tuesday (01/08).

The term "RISING" is an acronym for the Republic of Indonesia and Singapore, and is the brainchild of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Singaporean Foreign minister Vivian Balakrishman, who have pursued the project to deepen cultural and fashion ties between both countries.

Ngurah Swajaya, Indonesia's ambassador to Singapore, said, "'RISING FASHION' is the true definition of fashion diplomacy," adding that "great young talents [...] meet and work together for the project, and we believe that this will lead to other projects that will highlight both Indonesia and Singapore in the international fashion scene."

Singapore's ambassador to Indonesia, Anil Kumar Nayar, also lauded the project, saying the project is "an excellent initiative that can help to foster closer collaboration and stronger people-to-people ties within our two countries using fashion and retail."

Singapore is Indonesia's top investor, pouring over $9 billion into the country in 2016 and around $3.7 billion in the first half this year.

"This collaboration is definitely going to improve the economies of both countries," said Charina Widjaja, the managing director of Digital Fashion Week (DFW).

"Both countries have a lot of [fashion] talent with great potential. We hope to be able to nurture and facilitate them with a lot more opportunities," she added.

DFW and the Textile and Fashion Federation (TaFF) have curated 12 up-and-coming fashion labels to participate in the project. Some of the project's participating Indonesian designers include Amanda Rahardjo, Calla Atelier, Natalia Kiantoro and Sav Lavin.